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Minjingu phosphate rock applications increase the population of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with a positive impact on crop yields in a Kenyan Ferralsol

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Abstract

Soil microbes such as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria play significant roles in the solubilisation of inorganic phosphorus (P), mineralization of organic P and in improving plant P uptake. It is known that phosphate solubilising microorganisms (PSM) populations largely vary depending on the ecosystems, the cropping systems or the soil management. The capacity of Minjingu phosphate rock (PR) to enhance the populations of native PSM under three cereal–legume rotation systems was assessed in the third season of rotation. Triple super phosphate (TSP) was used as a positive control. In comparison to the negative control, application of Minjingu PR increased the total fungal diversity and phosphate solubilising bacteria (PSB) population by 67–90 % while high rates of TSP significantly (p < 0.05) reduced bacterial diversity and populations of PSB by 46–69 %. Minjingu PR also resulted in both crop and legume yields increase (41–104 % compared to the control), which were similar to those obtained with TSP application. Cropping systems incorporating sparingly soluble P sources such as Minjingu PR into soils can stimulate the populations of native PSB and agronomic productivity. They may represent a promising way of minimizing the utilization of mineral P fertilizers.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the financial support towards this study through the Commercial Products project (“COMPRO”) and AfNET program coordinated by the Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (TSBF- CIAT). Field technicians, Mukalama, J. and Aswani are appreciated for managing the trial. We are also indebted to TSBF-CIAT for providing the laboratory facilities and chemicals for studies.

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Author notes

  1. Laetitia Herrmann

    Present address: Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Built Environment, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University (Burwood Campus), Melbourne, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI-Kitale), P.O. Box 450, Kitale, 30200, Kenya

    Keziah Wairimu Ndungu-Magiroi

  2. International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), c/o International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), P.O. Box 823-00621, Nairobi, Kenya

    Boaz Waswa

  3. Action for Integrated Rural Development, Accra, Ghana

    Andre Bationo

  4. University of Eldoret, P.O. Box 1125, Eldoret, Kenya

    Keziah Wairimu Ndungu-Magiroi, John Robert Okalebo & Caleb Othieno

  5. Tropical Soil Biology and Fertility Institute of CIAT (CIAT-TSBF), c/o World Agroforestry Centre, P.O. Box 30677, Nairobi, 00100, Kenya

    Keziah Wairimu Ndungu-Magiroi, Laetitia Herrmann & Didier Lesueur

  6. CIRAD, UMR Eco&Sols - Ecologie Fonctionnelle and Biogéochimie des Sols and Agroécosystèmes (SupAgro-CIRAD-INRA-IRD), Land Development Department, Office of Science for Land Development, Paholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand

    Didier Lesueur

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  1. Keziah Wairimu Ndungu-Magiroi
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Correspondence to Didier Lesueur.

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Ndungu-Magiroi, K.W., Waswa, B., Bationo, A. et al. Minjingu phosphate rock applications increase the population of phosphate solubilising microorganisms with a positive impact on crop yields in a Kenyan Ferralsol. Nutr Cycl Agroecosyst 102, 91–99 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-014-9661-6

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